Three for Prop. 4

Leaders of Texas’ three Tier One schools say they’d welcome more competition.

The presidents of Rice University, the University of Texas at Austin and Texas A&M University have released a letter touting Proposition 4 on next month’s ballot. (Early voting started this week.)

They don’t come right out and tell people to vote for the proposition, one of 11 constitutional amendments on the ballot. The state frowns on people who run public institutions – like UT and A&M – telling people how to vote.

But the letter does note a major selling point pushed by other supporters: “Significantly, Proposition 4 does not require any new taxes or bonds and puts to work money that today is not benefitting any Texas university.”

Proposition 4 would allow seven schools to tap into a now-dormant state fund to help elevate their research endeavors. The seven are the University of Houston, Texas Tech University, the University of North Texas and UT-Arlington, UT-Dallas, UT-El Paso and UT-San Antonio.

That’s a good thing, the leaders say:

Additional Texas Tier One universities will add to the strength of Rice, Texas A&M and UT Austin, providing opportunities for collaboration and partnerships to stimulate research and bring home additional research grants.

You can read the entire letter after the jump. Where do you stand? Will you be supporting Proposition 4?